Contamination of lead (Pb) in the coastal sediments of north and south of Iran: a review study

Coastal areas of Iran are heavily affected by urbanisation, industrialisation, and maritime activities. One consequence of this environmental pressure is the contaminants accumulation, as heavy metals, into the marine ecosystem. In this review, the coastal areas in the north and south of the country were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination of, one of the most toxic metals found in the environment. All studies conducted during 2006–2016 with at least 10 specimens that reported the mean and standard deviation of Pb were considered in this review. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Q and I² statistics. The Pb mean concentration overall studies was estimated to be 21.88?µg/g (95% CIs: 16.25–27.50). Random effect model showed no statistical difference in mean Pb concentration levels between south and north coasts. However, the variability in Pb mean concentrations within southern coasts was considerable and statistically significant. Moreover, the Pb concentrations in the northern coasts of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, in south of Iran, decreased in the following order Hormozgan > Khuzestan > Sistan-VA-Balluchestan > Bushehr while in the southern coasts of Caspian Sea, in north of Iran, decreased in the order Guilan > Mazandaran > Golestan.     

Enhancing generic ecological model for short-term prediction of Southern North Sea algal dynamics with remote sensing images

Physically based numerical modelling follows from the basic understanding of the underlying mechanisms and is often represented by a set of (partial differential) equations. It is one of the main approaches in population dynamics modelling. The emphasis of the model introduced in this paper is on the simulation of short-term spatial and temporal dynamics of harmful algal bloom (HAB) events. Total suspended matter (TSM) concentration is one of the dominant factors for harmful algal bloom (HAB) prediction in North Sea. However, the modelling of suspended matter contains a high degree of uncertainty in this area. Therefore, this research aims to achieve a better estimation for the short-term prediction of harmful algal bloom development in both space and time by using spatially distributed TSM retrieved from remotely sensed images as physically based model inputs. In order to supply complete spatially covered datasets for the physically based model instrument: generic ecological model (GEM), this research retrieves TSM information from MERIS images by means of proper estimation techniques including biharmonic splines and self-learning cellular automata. A better estimation of HAB spatial pattern development is achieved by adding spatially distributed TSM data as inputs to original GEM model, and it proved that chlorophyll-a concentration in this area is very sensitive to TSM concentration.     

黄海近岸表层沉积物中PAHs的分布特征与潜在风险

利用第二次全国海洋污染基线调查数据,考察了我国黄海近岸海域表层沉积物中多环芳烃(PAHs)的分布状况、组成比例,并开展了初步的来源分析和潜在生态风险评价.研究结果表明,PAHs的含量范围从未检出至8294 ng·g-1,高值站点主要位于辽东半岛的大连湾附近海区,以及山东半岛北部的威海沿岸.在辽东半岛、山东半岛的近岸海区,表层沉积物中的PAHs以中、高环(4～5环)组分占据明显优势;而在江苏近岸海区,低环组分(2～3环)的比例明显上升.低环与中高环组分的相对丰度以及成对同分异构体的比值结果显示,各海区表层沉积物中PAHs的主要来源是各类燃烧释放过程,如燃煤、生物质、天然气和交通尾气等,石油产品输入的影响居次要地位.依据效应低值区间ERL的警戒水平,计算ERL商的平均值,从而初步得到各海区潜在的PAHs生态风险水平.结果表明,大连湾PAHs污染较为严重,各PAHs组分的浓度均高于ERL警戒水平,而苯并(a)芘甚至超出效应中值区间的境界水平ERM,显示大连湾近岸海区具有较高的PAHs生态风险,而其它海区的潜在生态风险则较低.     

Snorkelling and trampling in shallow-water fringing reefs: risk assessment and proposed management strategy

Shallow reefs (reef flats <1.5 m) in the northern Red Sea are impacted by growing tourism that includes swimmers, snorkellers and reef walkers but have largely been neglected in past studies. We selected a fringing reef along the lagoon of Dahab (Sinai, Egypt) as a model for a management strategy. Point-intercept line transects were used to determine substrate composition, coral community and condition, and the coral damage index (CDI) was applied. Approximately 84% of the coral colonies showed signs of damage such as breakage, partial mortality or algal overgrowth, especially affecting the most frequent coral genus Acropora. Questionnaires were used to determine the visitors' socio-economic background and personal attitudes regarding snorkelling, SCUBA-diving and interest in visiting a prospective snorkelling trail. Experiencing nature (97%) was by far the strongest motivation, and interest in further education about reef ecology and skill training was high. Less experienced snorkellers and divers--the target group for further education and skill training--were those most prepared to financially support such a trail. We therefore recommend a guided underwater snorkelling trail and restricting recreational use to a less sensitive 'ecotourism zone' while protecting the shallow reef flat. Artificial structures can complete the trail and offer the opportunity to snorkel over deeper areas at unfavourable tide or wind conditions. This approach provides a strategy for the management and conservation of shallow-water reefs, which are facing increasing human impact here and elsewhere.     

River network structure shapes interannual feedbacks between adult sea lamprey migration and larval habitation

Adult sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) migrating upstream to spawn follow a pheromone released by instream larvae. The size (i.e. flow) of a tributary dilutes the concentration of this pheromone, such that the downstream propagation pattern of larval pheromone must be influenced by patterns in the relative sizes and numbers of confluent tributaries. We developed an individual-based model to explicitly test the resulting hypothesis that river network structure influences the migration decisions of adult lampreys following the larval pheromone, and in turn the distribution of larvae. First, we initialized the model using randomly generated river networks, and found a strong positive relationship between network diameter and larval aggregation. Larvae aggregated over time, and the degree and rate of this aggregation depended on network diameter. Second, we initialized the model using a river network based on the Muskegon River, Michigan, and compared model-generated larval distribution to available field survey data. We found a significant correlation between model-generated larval abundance and field-measured larval densities (r₂ = 0.54; p < 0.0001). We also found an inverse relationship between subwatershed area and the degree to which path-dependent effects influenced larval abundance in that subwatershed. Our results overall suggest that larval distribution across a watershed results from a system of context-dependent interannual feedbacks shaped by network structure and the past migratory and spawning behavior of adults.     

Anomalous Ba/Ca signals associated with low temperature stresses in Porites corals from Daya Bay, northern South China Sea

Barium to calcium (Ba/Ca) ratio in corals has been considered as a useful geochemical proxy for upwelling, river flood and other oceanic processes. However, recent studies indicated that additional environmental or biological factors can influence the incorporation of Ba into coral skeletons. In this study, Ba/Ca ratios of two Porites corals collected from Daya Bay, northern South China Sea were analyzed. Ba/Ca signals in the two corals were ‘anomalous’ in comparison with Ba behaviors seen in other near-shore corals influenced by upwelling or riverine runoff. Our Ba/Ca profiles displayed similar and remarkable patterns characterized by low and randomly fluctuating background signals periodically interrupted by sharp and large synchronous peaks, clearly indicating an environmental forcing. Further analysis indicated that the Ba/Ca profiles were not correlated with previously claimed environmental factors such as precipitation, coastal upwelling, anthropogenic activities or phytoplankton blooms in other areas. The maxima of Ba/Ca appeared to occur in the period of Sr/Ca maxima, coinciding with the winter minimum temperatures, which suggests that the anomalous high Ba/Ca signals were related to winter-time low sea surface temperature. We speculated that the Ba/Ca peaks in corals of the Daya Bay were most likely the results of enrichment of Ba-rich particles in their skeletons when coral polyps retracted under the stresses of anomalous winter low temperatures. In this case, Ba/Ca ratio in relatively high-latitude corals can be a potential proxy for tracing the low temperature stress.     

黄渤海表层沉积物中正构烷烃和甾醇的分布及来源研究

在黄海、渤海湾和莱州湾采集64个表层沉积物样品,分析正构烷烃（C15～C33）和甾醇（菜子甾醇、菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇）的质量分数和分子组合特征,探讨其来源,比较物质来源的空间差异。结果表明：（1）黄海表层沉积物中类脂生物标志物主要呈现陆源和海源共同影响的特征,其中北黄海以陆源输入为主,高碳数正构烷烃（〉C24）具有明显的奇碳优势,陆源高等植物的贡献较大;南黄海陆源输入与海洋自身贡献相当;渤海湾与莱州湾接受来自河流的大量陆源物质;（2）来源于陆源高等植物的甾醇（包括菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇）在黄海表层沉积物中的质量分数远小于渤海湾和莱州湾,但指示硅藻来源的菜子甾醇在整个研究区域均具有较高的质量分数。     

青岛市港口船舶大气污染排放清单的建立及应用

2002~2006年青岛市环保局与瑞典国际开发合作署合作开发了青岛市空气环境质量管理系统,建立青岛市海上交通源大气污染排放清单是其中的一项子专题,范围涉及青岛沿岸分布的港口,重点考虑船舶停泊港口及航线过程的大气污染物排放,划分了20条航线。建立的青岛市海上交通源大气污染排放清单在开发的基于GIS地理信息系统EnviMan复合源大气扩散模型中得到较好应用,实现了对沿海主要大气污染物排放量的空间模拟测算,解析出大气污染排放清单建立年度青岛市港口、航运排放的大气污染物对市区环境空气中的SO₂、NO_X浓度贡献分别约占8.0%、12.9%。     

江苏沿海地区的相对海平面上升及其灾害性影响研究

江苏海岸是全国潮滩最集中分布区，其面积约占全国的１／４，沿海地区地势低平，相对海平面上升幅度较大，是全国少数几个受海平面上升危害最严重的地区之一。初步估算，２１世纪前半期该地区不同岸段相对海平面上升速率将可能达到４．５～９．５ｍｍ／ａ，约为同期全球平均上升速率的２～３倍。其灾害性影响主要集中在：①造成堤外潮滩湿地资源损失，相对海平面上升５０ｃｍ，因直接淹没、侵蚀加剧和淤涨减缓造成的潮滩损失面积将超过５×１０４ｈｍ２，湿地损失面积达２．４×１０４ｈｍ２；②降低海堤防御标准、危及海堤自身和受保护地区安全，相对海平面上升５０ｃｍ，该地区现有海堤防御标准将由现状５０～１００年一遇降为２０～５０年一遇；遇５０年一遇风暴高潮位，全区受潮水漫溢的海堤长度将比现状增加１７３ｋｍ以上，占海堤总长的１／４；③阻碍低洼地的洪水排泄、加剧洪涝灾害损失，相对海平面上升４０ｃｍ，苏北里下河和苏南太湖湖东两片洼地的自然排水能力将可能分别下降约２５％和２０％，若两洼地分别重现１９９１年型和１９５４年型洪水，则因海平面上升增加的受淹面积将超过４×１０４ｈｍ２     

我国海冰的可能最大厚度

我国的渤海和黄海北部近岸海域，每年冬季都有海冰出现，渤海的辽东湾是我国冰情最严重海区。在渤海，特别是辽东湾，海注作用力是海洋工程设计的控制荷载。海注的厚度是计算海冰作用力的重要参数之一。本文根据渤海辽东湾北部鲅鱼圈和盘锦海洋站的气温和海冰观测资料，建立了计算海冰厚度的经验公式，并据此估算了我国平整海冰的可能最大厚度为８０ｃｍ。